Trinity Lutheran Church

1295 Middlefield Road
Palo Alto

The first stained glass windows in Trinity Lutheran Church were created in 1944 by Carl Huneke in his Century Stained Glass Studio in San Francisco.  At that time, the church was located at the corner of Hamilton and Bryant in Palo Alto.  Anna Hesselmeyer, the church organist, donated the Trinity windows in the entry.  Many years later, she became Mrs. Lang.  Mr. and Mrs. Herman Schanzenbacher donated the Crucifixion window over the altar.  Pfc. Schanzenbacher wrote from his Army assignment in the Pacific to make that donation.  The first windows were completed in 1945 as a part of the parish’s twentieth anniversary celebration.

The theme of the windows was selected by Pastor Paul H. D. Lang.  The windows on the right are Martin Luther’s three Solae and the Soli Deo Gratia.  The windows on the left are the Fruits of the Spirit from the letters of Paul to the Galatians.  Behind the altar is the Crucifixion.  To the side of the altar are two windows, Baptism and Communion.

More windows were added in 1961 after the church had been moved to its present site at 1295 Middlefield in 1960.  

In October 1993, the church and the windows were heavily damaged by fire.  The windows were restored by Frank Warthmann of European Art Glass in Scotts Valley.

The style of the windows and the distinctive Chartres blue glass are reminiscent of the cathedrals of Europe.